Audit: Oregon Unemployed Overpaid By $41 million in 2011

An audit found the state of Oregon overpaid the unemployed $41 million in 2011 in jobless benefits. The state has sent letters to everyone who received too much money telling them to pay it back.

The deputy administrator of unemployment benefits, Dee Anna Hassanpour, told the Salem Statesman Journal the volume of claims from the recession swamped her office.

The audit released by the secretary of state's office Wednesday says people were mainly overpaid for two reasons. Some were paid twice after they applied of extended benefits, and some continued to file for benefits after they found a job.

Hassanpour says the audit has helped the office fix problems in the claims system.